Combination fan guard and motor mounting



Oct. 7, 1941. T. HESS ETAL COMBINATION FAN GUARD AND MOTOR MOUNTING Filed may 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 09125??? f 6 2 3- 5 zc ara e er r59 7- 0a. 7, 1941; T. HESS ETAL 2,258,325

COMBINATION FAN GUARD AND MOTOR MOUNTING Filed May 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 7,119

] UNITED Theodore Heal, Prairie View, 111., and Richard 0. Jepertinger, Milwaukee, Wla, assignors to Modine Manufacturing CompaimBaclne, Wia,

a oo 'lm'ation of Wisconsin Application May is, me, Serial No. 224,396 10 cm (01. 230-213) This invention relates to a combined fan guard and fan motor mounting, and is particularly well adapted for use in unit heaters and the like. wherein it is desirable to protect ones person from coming in contact with the blades of the fan. g

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement wherein an eillcient guard is provided to protect persons from coming in contact with the blades of the fan, and also to provide a suitable sup port for the motor employed for driving the fan.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement whereby motors having a wide range of easing or frame sizes may be supported and secured in the fan guard without changes in the dimensions or construction of the guard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction whereby a motor and fan operatively related thereto may bemounted in and adjusted or shifted relatively to the fan guard. and mounting in a manner to properly position or center the fan with respect to an opening, for example, in the device on which the guard is mounted, and whereby the fan and motor may be secured in such adjusted position.

A further object of the invention is to pro: vide a device of the class described, which is eflicient in its operation, of pleasing appearance and is economical to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to Fig. l is a rear elevational view of a unit heater housing having a fan and motor operatively re-'- lated thereto, and illustrating my improved fan guard and motor support in connection therewith; e Y 1 Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the structure illustrated inFlg. 1; V

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken substantially as indicatedby the line I--5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 55 view taken substantially as indicated by the line 0-: of Fig. 1.

. The illustrative embodiment of the present in-.

vention is shown in the drawings as applied to a type of unit heater or other heat exchange device including a housing indicated, as a whole, by the numeral ll, said housing having an opening l2 therein, in which a fan I 3 is positioned for circulating air through the housing, as is common practice in such devices, the fan It being operatively related to and adapted to be driven by a motor ll suitably connected to a source or electrical current supply.

For. rotecting ones person from coming in contact with the blades of the fan l3, and for providing a suitable and; convenient mounting for the motor It, the present invention, as shown in the present instance, comprises a plurality of annularly spaced frames, each indicated as a whole by the numeral l5 and positioned adjacent the opening l2 of the housing II, the said frames being, preferably, of substantially -V-shape, and having the adjacent free end portions it of adjacent frames l5 connected by soldering, spot welding or other suitable means to a clip or connector l'l shown, in the present instance, as provided with an aperture l8 adapted to receive a bolt I9, or the like, by which the connected frames l5 and clip ll may be secured to the housing II, as clearly illustratedin Fig. 6.

The respective frames ii are provided with inwardly extending arms 20 connected together adjacent their inner ends by radially extending substantially U-shaped portions 2| adapted to receive bolts 22, by-which annularly spaced L-shaped brackets, each indicated as a whole by the numeral 23, are adjustably secured to the U-shaped portions 2| of the frames i5.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the respective brackets 23 are provided with radially extending leg portions 24 having elongated apertures 25 formed therein adapted to receive the bolts 22 in a manner to provide for additional adjustment of the brackets 23 with respect to the U-shaped portions of the frames-l5, and, by reference particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that resilient blocks 26 formed, preferably, of rubber or the like, are positioned between the bolts 22 and the U-shaped portion 2| for absorbing motor vibrations and preventing transmission thereof to the frames l5 and the housing ll.

For suitably positioning the motor It in operativeposition, the brackets 23 are provided, re-

spectively, with substantially parallel legs 21 a split clamping ring,'indicated as a whole by v the numeral 28, is provided and adapted to surround the motor Il and to engage the outer sides of legs 21 of the brackets 23, the clamping ring 23 being provided adjacent its ends with laterally 1 extending portions 29 adapted to receive a bolt and nut connection 30 by which the legs 21 of the brackets 23 may be clamped securely against the sides or periphery of the motor I 4.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that the clamping ring 231s shown, in the present instance, as of relatively shallow substantially U-shaped cross-section having flanges 3| adjacent its longitudinal edge portions, and that the flanges 3| are provided with elongated notches or recesses 32 of substantially greater length than the width of the legs 21 of the brackets 23, and are adapted to receive the respective legs 21 in the respective recesses 32, the legs 21 being provided adjacent their ends with laterally extending portions 33 (Fig. 4) for retaining the ring 23 against relative displacement longitudinally of the legs 21.

By reason of the split clamping ring 28,- the adjustability of the brackets 23 with respect to the U-shaped portions 2|, and the relatively greater length of the recesses 32 in relation to the width of the legs 21 of the brackets 23, :it will be apparent that motors of various diametrical dimensions may be employed and readily secured to the supporting frames l5, and that the motors may be shifted laterally to facilitate proper positioning or centering of the fan 13 with respect to the opening l2 in the housing ii.

For providing further protection against ones person coming in contact with the fan l3, the present structure is shown, in the present instance, as provided with a plurality of radially spaced, preferably annular guard members 34 mounted on the arms 20 of the frames i and secured thereto as by soldering, spot welding or other suitable means.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement whereby eillcient protection against contact with the fan blades is obtained, and wherein a suitable support for the fan motor is-provided, also that the present invention is readily adaptable to the use of motors having a wide range of casing or frame sizes, and also permits of relative adjustment of the motor and its support for properly positioning or centering the fan wifli respect to an opening or the like.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and subcombinations.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening assasas ceive a fan motor casing,-a plurality of radially extending brackets operatively related to said ring and adjustably connected, respectively, to the junctures of said arms, and a plurality of guard members adjacent said arms between the inner and outer end portions thereof.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening therein, a fan in said opening and a motor for said fan, of a plurality of supporting frames mounted on said housing adjacent said opening and having inwardly extending arm portions forming annularly spaced junctures adjacent their inner ends, a clamping ring adapted to receive a fan motor casing, a plurality of L-shaped brackets having leg portions positioned between said ring and casing and having radially extending leg portions adjustably connected, respectively, to the junctures of said arms, and uard members on said arms between the inner and outer ends thereof.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening therein, a fan in said opening and a motor for said fan,-of a plurality of supporting frames mounted on said housing adjacent said opening and having inwardly extending arm portions forming annularly spaced junctures adjacent their inner ends, a clamping ring adapted to receive a fan motor casing and having a plurality of elongated annularly spaced recesses formed in said ring, a plurality of L-shaped brackets having leg portions positioned in said recesses between said ring and casing and having radially extending leg portions adjustably connected, respectively, to the junctures of said arms, and guard members on said arms between the inner and outer ends thereof.

of a plurality of supporting frames mounted on' said housing adjacent said opening and having inwardly extending arin portions forming annu larly spaced junctures adjacent their inner ends, a clamping ring adapted to receive a fan motor casing and having a plurality of elongated annularly spaced recesses formed in said ring, a plurality of L-shaped brackets having leg portions positioned in and movable with respect to said recesses between said ring and casing, said brackets having radially extending leg portions connected, respectively, to the junctures of said arms and radially adjustable with respect thereto, and guard members on said arms between the inner and outer ends thereof.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening therein, a fan in said opening and a motor for said fan, of a plurality of V-shaped supporting frames mounted on said housing adjacent said opening, said frames having arm portions connected adjacent their inner ends to form a plurality of radially extending U-shaped portions, a clamping ring adapted to receive said motor and having a plurality of elongated recesses formed in said ring, a plurality of L-shaped brackets having leg portions of lesser width than the length of said recesses and positioned therein, said brackets having radially extending leg portions adjustably secured to said U-shaped portions of said frames and uard members operatively related to said arms adjacent the opening in said housing.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening there- .aasaass in, a fan in said opening anda motor for said fan. of a plurality oi V-shaped supporting frames adjacent said opening, means for securing adjacent free end portions of adjacent frames to said housing, said frames having arm portions connected adjacent their inner ends to form a plurality of radially extending U-shaped portions, a clamping ring adapted to receive said motor and having a plurality of elongated recesses formed in the inner side of said ring, a plurality of L- shaped brackets having leg portions of lesser width than the length of said recesses and positioned therein between said ring and motor, said brackets having radially extending leg portions adjustably secured to said U -shaped portions and said frames, and guard members operatively related to said arms adjacent the opening in said housing.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening therein, a fan in said opening and a motor for said fan, of a plurality of V-shaped supporting frames positioned annularly around and adjacent said opening, means for securing adjacent free end portions of adjacent frames to said housing, said frames having arm portions connected adjacent their inner ends to form a plurality of annularly spaced radially extending U-shaped portions, a clamping ring adapted to receive said motor and having a plurality of elongated annularly spaced recesses formed in the inner side of said ring, a plurality of L-shaped brackets having leg portions of lesser width than the length of said recesses and positioned therein between said ring and motor, said brackets having radially extending leg portions provided with elongated apertures therein, fastening means in said apertures and operatively related to said U-shaped related to said clamping member and motor casing in a manner to be secured therebetween. means for adjustably securing said leg portions to the respective junctures of said arms, cushioning means adjacent and operatively related tc said supporting frames for absorbing motoi vibrations, and guard members adjacent said arms between the inner and outer end portions thereof.

9. Ina device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening therein, a fan in said opening and a motor for said fan, of a plurality of supporting frames mounted on said housing adjacent said opening and having inwardly extending arm portions forming annularly spaced junctures adjacent their inner ends, a clamping ring adapted to receive a fan motor casing and having a plurality of elongated annularly spaced recesses formed in said ring, a plurality of L-shaped brackets having leg portions positioned in said recesses between said portions for adjustably securing the brackets thereto, and guard members on said arms adjacent the opening in said housing.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening therein, a fan in said opening and a motor for said fan, of a plurality of supporting frames mounted on said housing adjacent said opening and having inwardly extending arm portions forming a juncture adjacent their inner ends, an annular clamping member adapted to receive a fan motor casing, radially disposed leg portions operatively ring and casing and having radially extending leg portions adjustably connected, respectively, to the junctures of said arms, annularly spaced, resilient cushioning means adjacent and operatively related to said supporting frames for absorbing vibrations of'the motor, and guard members on said arms between the inner and outer ends thereof.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having an opening therein, a fan in said opening and a motor for said fan, of a, plurality of supporting frames mounted on said housing adjacent said opening and having inwardly extending arm portions forming annularly spaced junotures adjacent their inner ends, a clampingring adapted to receive a fan motor casing, a plurality of L-shaped brackets having leg portions positioned between said ring and casing and having radially extending leg portions adjustably connected, respectively, to the junctures of said arms, resilient cushioning means positioned between the respective radially extending leg portions of said brackets and the junctures of said inwardlyextending arm portions for absorbing motor vibrations, and guard members on said arms between the inner and outer ends thereof.

THEODORE HESS.

RICHARD C. JEPERTINGER. 

